Multiflash lamp



July 30, 1946. H. H. MAGDSICK MULTIFLASH LAMP Filed July 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lnven'tor': H Her'beWf Magclsick His A++orne3 July 30, 1946. H, H. MAGDSICK 2,404,970

MULTIFLASH LAMP Filed July 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invervtor: H. Herberir Magdsick, b9 His ATtorneg.

Patented July 30, 1946 Henry Herbert Magdsick, East Cleveland, Ohio,

assignor to General Electric Company, a. corporation of New York" Application July 5, 1943, Sonia-1N0. 49355159 4 Claims. 1

My invention relates to illuminating apparatus. for photographic purposes and its principal object is to provide such an apparatus capable of projecting amultiplicity of light flashes in rapidsuccession to enable a photographer to take a series of pictures in a short time. A further object of my invention is to provide a. multiflash lamp useful in my illuminating apparatus. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following detailed description of species thereof and from the appended claims.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, species of my invention are shown in which Fig. l is a front elevational view of an illuminating apparatus embodying my inventionwith one species of my new multiflash lamp mounted therein; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged, front elevational, partly sectional view of the lamp supporting part of the apparatus shown in 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the connections between the apparatus and an energy source; Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the multiilash lamp shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 6 is a similar view of another species of multiflash lamp useful in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3, and Fig: 7 is a fragmentary, front elevational view 01 the lower part oi the lamp supporting means shown in Fig. 3 and on the same enlarged scale.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, my apparatus comprises a battery case W, a reflector H of the parabolic type having a focal point and an axis of projection, and. a lamp supporting member l2. The reflector H and the member 12 are secured to the cap l3 of the case I8 by a holding member, or bracket M" of electrically insulating material, such as wood or fiber, bolted to said cap l3.

As shown in detail in Fig. 3', the lamp supporting member i2 comprises a metal sleeve ['5 which passes through the holder I4 and is clamped thereto by the nut IB- and the shoulder ll of the sleeve is. A ring-contact: I8 and a washer I! are interposed and clamped between the holder M and the nut I8. An elongated, metal post or spindle 28 passes through and projects beyond each end of the sleeve Ill. The upper, or lamp supporting, end portion of the spindle 28 has a spring-wedge 2i which serves to hold the lamp in engagement with the spring-contact 22 which is permanently and rigidly fastened, as by soldering, to the spindle 28. Another spring-contact 23 is similarly fastened to the sleeve 15 and spaced from the contact 22. The center portion 28 of spring-contact 22 is larger in diameter than the spindle 28 and is provided with a ridge-like protuberance 24' extending longitudinally of the spindle 28. The protuberance 24 functions as a key engaging with a slot in the common base of the lamp to turn the lamp as the spindle 28 is turned, as explained in detail below. A washer 25 of electrically insulating material, such as fiber, leathenrnbber. or the like, is interposed between the end of sleeve i8 and the spring-contact 22 and the part of the spindle 28 extending along sleeve I5 is also covered with electrically insulating material. The lower end portion of the spindle 28 is provided with a ring contact 28 which is electrically insulated from the adjacent end'o! the sleeve l5 by Washer 21 of similar material as washer 2 8.

An indexing apparatus, shown in a fully indexed position in Fig. 3 and between indexing positions in Fig. 7, is provided on the lower end of the Spindle 28 and comprises a stationary ring 28 secured to the cap I! by supports 28 and a nut 38 engaging with the threaded end portion of the spindle 28. The engaging surfaces of said ring 28 and the nut 38 are provided with a plurality oi notches corresponding in number to the number ofbulbs in the lamp. The line of division between ring 28 and nut 38 is indicated at 38' in Fig; 3. The notches on ring 28 are so disposed with respect to the key 28' on the portion 24 of contact 22 that each time the nut 38 is turned one notch with respect to the ring 28, one bulb of the lamp is moved out of and another bulb moved into the focal point of the reflector II. The washer 21 may be of compressible material, such as soft rubber, or a spring-washer may be interposed between contact 28 and ring 28 to permit slight longitudinal movement of ring 28 as nut 88 is rotated. A knurled wheel 3| is threaded onto the lower portion of the spindle 28 and butts against the nut 38 to lock both of these elements in position on the spindle 28. Longitudinal movement of the spindle 28 with respect to the sleeve I8 is limited by contact 22 and nut 38 while rotary movement of spindle 28 in sleeve I5 is accomplished by turnin wheel 8| in the direction of the threads on spindle 28. Thus, spindle 28 is electrically insulated from, is supported by, and is rotatable in sleeve (5 with its axis of rotation normal to the axis of projection of the reflector II.

The ring-contacts I8 and 26 of the sleeve l5 and the spindle 28, respectively, are connected to separate terminals of the battery cells in th flash light by the insulated wires 32 and 33, re-

spectively, passing through the cap l3 into the case In.

The case I!) is of a well-known commercial type and. as shown in Fig. 2, comprises a metal switch member 34 secured thereto and a contact 35 insulated from said case 0. A socket 36 is provided on the case M which accommodates a plug having Wires connected to an electromagnet for tripping the camera shutter. In Fig. 4 of the drawings, I have illustrated diagrammatically a circuit showing the connections from the battery cells to the socket 36 and the wires 32 and 33 of my illuminating apparatus connected into the circuit. The electromagnet and, the plug for engagement with the socket 36 have been omitted for simplicity of illustration.

Referring to Fig. 4, the series-connected, conventional flashlight cells 31 are enclosed in and rounded to the case HI. One contact in the socket 36 on the case I andthe spindle 20 of my new illuminating apparatus are connected to the switch member 34 on the case in into and out of engagement with the contact 35.

The multiflash lamp unit 43, best illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings-may be mounted on the lamp holder |2 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and comprises a common base or hub member 4| circula in shape and of electrically insulating material, such as fiber, hard rubber; or an electrically insulating, moldable plastic. Said base 4| has a plurality of bulbs 42 permanently secured therein and projecting radially from the peripheral portion thereof. The bulbs 42 are of ellipsoidal shape and are filled with a combustible material,-such asshredded foil (indicated by the light lines in the drawings), and a supporter of combustion, such as oxygen. The combustible material, when ignited, produces a flash of actinic light and is ignited by an ignition means comprising a tungsten filament connected across a pair of current inlead wires 43 and 44 sealed into the stem 45 of the bulbs 42. Such bulbs are disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,306,563, issued December 29, 1942, to Marvin Pipkin.

The inlead wire 43 of each of the bulbs 42 is connected to the external, center ring contact 46 of the base 4|. A plurality of equally spaced contacts 41. one for each of the inleads 44, are disposed adjacent the peripheral portion of the base 4|. passage therethro-ugh defined by a metal tube 48 of double bore. The larger-diameter portion of the tube 48 engages with the ring contact 46 on the base 4|, accommodates the portion 24 of the contact 22 and has a pair of diametricall opposed slots 49, either one of which engages with the key 24' on the portion 24. The smaller-diameter portion of the tube 48 accommodates the spindle 20. A shoulder 50 is provided where the doublebore tube 43 changes in diameter.

The lamp 4B is mounted on the lamp holder l2 by placing the portion of larger diameter of thetube 43 over the end of spindle 23, moving the lamp base 4| longitudinall of the spindle 20 in The center portion of the base 4| ha athe outer contacts 41 engaging with the springall I graphic purposes.

' into the holder [4.

4 the direction of the contact 22 until the key 24 enters one of the slots 49 and the key supporting portion 24 of the contact 22 enters the portion of larger diameter of the tube 48 with the end there of abutting against the shoulder 5|! in the tube 48. The lamp 40 is then clamped between the spring wedge 2| on the spindle 20 and the center portion 24 of contact 22 with the ring contact 46 and metal tube 48 engaging with the electrically conducting parts of the spindle 20 and with one of contact 23 on th sleeve l5. One of the bulbs 42 of the lamp 40 will then be in the focal point of the reflector II and may be ignited by moving member 34 into engagement with contact 35 to provide a flash of actinic light suitable for photo- Member 34 is then released and moves away from contact 35. The flashed bulb maybe moved out of the focal point and the next bulb moved int the focal point of reflec tor II by turning wheel'3l until 'nut 30 moves one notch with respect to ring 28'. The new bulb may then be flashed in the same manner as the first bulb. The above described operation may be repeated until all the bulbs have been flashed. The lamp may then be removed by pressing spring wedge 2| against spindle 2|! and lifting the lamp of! the support |2.

The wheel 3| and the member 34 are so juxtaposed on the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 that the entire operation of turning the lamp 40 by the wheel 3| to bring successive bulbs 42 into the focal point of the reflector II and the ignition of the bulbs in sequence by pressing member 34 against contact 35 may be accomplished with one hand of the user. This is advantageous when the lighting apparatus-is used at a distance from the camera and is held in one hand of the photographer. In this operation the portion of holder |4 projecting'beyond the cap I3 in the direction awa from the wheel 3| forms a convenientsupport as it rests against the photographer's hand.

The species of multiflash lamp 43' illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings is similar to that shown in Fig. 5 except for the provision of a plurality of contacts 5| in place of the single, center ring contact 43. The contacts 5| are disposed at such distance from the center of the base 4! that they engagewith the outer peripheral portion of the spring contact 22 when the lamp 4|! is mounted on the lamp holder l2. The double-bore tube 48 of thisembodiment may consist of the same electrically insulating material as base 4| and be formed as an integral part thereof.

I prefer to so mount the reflector II on the holder N that th relative spacing between the reflector II and the lamp supporting member l2 may be changed. Multlflash lamps of different sizes may then be used in the apparatus and the apparatus may be adjusted to obtain a desired distribution of the projected light. To this end I have provided slots 53 and 54 in the lower part of support 52 of reflector Bolts 55 and 56 pass through slots 53 and 54, respectivel and Bolt 53 is provided with a knurled nut 51 which may be loosened sufilclently to permit longitudinal movement of the support 52 along the holder |4 againstthe clamping action of the bolt 55. Bolt 55 may be provided with 1 to 4. Further, the apparatus may be separated from the battery case Ill, be provided with a handle, or the like, and elongated connecting wires 32 and 33 for use at appreciable distances from the case It).

The lamp unit 40 shown particularly in Figs. 5 and 6 is being claimed in divisional application Serial No. 523,237, filed February 21, 1944.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A portable photographic flash light device comprising a concave light-concentrating reflector, a spindle rotatably mounted in front of said reflector and extending substantially normal to the axis of said reflector, a rotary lamp unit comprising a hub member carrying individual flash lamps extending radially from said hub, said hub member having an axially extending passage for engagement with one end of said spindle to support the lamp unit in front of said reflector and in a plane including the reflector axis, interlocking engagement means on said spindle and hub for causing said lamp unit to rotate upon rotation of said spindle, the lamps being thereby successively movable into the focus of said reflector, and electric circuit means arranged to energize that lamp which is at the said focus of the reflector.

2. A portable photographic flash light device comprising a support member, a concave lightconcentrating reflector carried by said support member, a tubular sleeve carried by said support member in front of said reflector and extending substantially normal to the axis of said reflector, a rotatably mounted spindle extending through said sleeve but spaced therefrom and adapted to support the hub of a rotary lamp unit in a plane including the reflector axis, and electrical contact members carried, respectively, by said spindle and by said sleeve for engagement with lamp contacts on said lamp unit.

3. A portable photographic flash light device comprising a battery casing adapted to be held in a vertical position, a concave light-concentrating reflector supported at the upper end of said casing with its axis horizontal, a vertically extending spindle rotatably supported at the upper end of said casing in front of said reflector, a rotary lamp unit comprising a hub member carrying in.- dividual flash lamps extending radially from said hub, said hub member having an axially extending passage for engagement with the upper end of said spindle to support the lamp unit in front of said reflector and in a horizontal plane including the reflector axis, interlocking engagement means on said spindle and hub for causing said lamp unit to rotate upon rotation of the spindle, the lamps being thereby successively movable into the focus of said reflector, the lower end of said spindle being provided with flnger-grippable means for its rotation, and electric circuit means arranged to energize that lamp which is at the focus of said reflector.

4. A portable photographic flash light device comprising a battery casing adapted to be held in a Vertical position, a concave light-concentrating reflector supported at the upper end of said casing with its axis horizontal, a vertically extending sleeve supported at the upper end of said casing in front of said reflector, a rotatably mounted spindle extending through said sleeve but spaced therefrom and adapted to support at its upper end the hub of a rotary lamp unit so that the said lamp unit is in a horizontal plane including the axis of said reflector, the lower end of said spindle being provided with flnger-grippable means for its rotation, and electrical contact members carried respectively by said spindle and by said sleeve for engagement with lamp contacts on said lamp unit, and means to electrically connect said contacts through said sleeve and spindle with a battery in said casing.

H. HERBERT MAGDSICK. 

